OCTOBER 2018 • FOGHORN 5 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Groundwater PVA Southeast Region Members: Getting the Job Done Nearly sixty individuals attended the PVA Southeast Region Meeting in Clearwater Beach, FL last month. This meeting kicked off an exciting line-up of PVA region meetings scheduled this fall and if the energy and success of this meeting is any indication, PVA members can expect some thought-provoking and enjoyable gatherings in our other region meetings. Special thanks must go out to Troy Manthey, Yacht StarShip Cruises and Events, Tampa, FL for hosting this event aboard the StarShip IV. Thanks also go to PVA Region Chairs Bob Bijur, Island Queen Cruises, Miami, FL and Corey Hubbard, Hubbard’s Marina, Madeira Beach, FL for their hard work in arranging this meeting and for their efforts in promoting attendance. A highlight of the day-long meeting was a roundtable discussion about illegal charters. This issue has been par- ticularly troublesome in Florida and in many other ports nation- wide. The session involved both U.S Coast Guard and passenger vessel operators who discussed industry impacts, and Coast Guard enforcement efforts while delving into the Coast Guard’s investigative and enforcement processes. Bob Bijur also discussed the ongoing develop- ment of a new website for passenger vessel operators and other to report illegal charter operations in their areas. If you have not yet made plans to attend one or more PVA Region Meetings there is still time. Following is the schedule for the remaining meetings and complete regis- tration information is available on the PVA website: PVA Great Lakes Region Meeting October 22-24, 2018 Lilac Trees Suites & Spa Mackinac Island, MI PVA Western Region Meeting October 30 - November 1, 2018 Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Lahaina, HI PVA Original Colonies Region Meeting November 7-9, 2018 Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Boston, MA There Really is Strength in Numbers Members are the lifeblood of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA). Their opinions and needs define us as an organization and their energy and knowledge propel us forward. PVA’s success, and its future, hinges on an active and dedicated membership. There is good news—PVA‘s member- ship numbers continue to increase. Thirty new member companies have joined so far this year—16 are new vessel operating members and 13 are new associate members. These strong numbers are the result of continuous marketing outreach to prospective member companies; stressing the member benefits offered by PVA and the merits of joining together as an industry for the common good. They are also the result of a robust economy that has propelled the passenger vessel industry forward. This strong business climate has promoted new vessel acquisitions as well as new vessel construction. PVA’s reputation for aggres- sively and credibly representing the interests of the passenger vessel industry in Washington D.C. also assists us in attracting new members to the association who want to support and par- ticipate in PVA’s advocacy efforts. Having a strong rep- resentative voice in the nation’s capital delivers tangible benefits to PVA members. PVA legislative successes have saved PVAmembers thousands of dollars. Capping Coast Guard Inspection User Fees resulted in significantly reduced annual inspection fees for PVA members. Our success in preventing the implementation of the one-size fits-all Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus (IBA) rule also saved industry thousands of dollars. One PVA member company indicated that if this requirement had gone into effect, they would have spent nearly $600,000 on IBAs, not including annual maintenance costs. These are just a few of the legislative and regulatory successes that benefit PVA members. The point is that none of PVA’s successes over the years would be possible without a strong and supportive membership. Your participation in PVAmatters. Your con- tribution of knowledge, expertise and ongoing support not only benefits your company but also the entire passenger vessel industry. Thank you for your continuing membership. If you know of prospective members in your area who should be a part of PVAand are not, please let me know. After all, there truly is strength in numbers. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTINUED ON PAGE 41 Having a strong representative voice in the Nation’s Capital delivers tangible benefits to PVA members.